Pachyveria Plant Named &#39;TSAECH1702&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Pachyveria plant named ‘TSAECH1702’ which is characterized by long and narrow succulent foliage with an upwardly curved aspect and an upright attitude, light greyed-green juvenile foliage with a white to light blue hue at and near the center of the rosette, foliage which becomes progressively suffused with yellow-green with age, mature foliage towards the outermost whorls of the rosette which is generally colored yellow-green with a blue hue, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2017/1147, filed Apr. 25, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Pachyphytum glutinacaule x Echeveria hookeri.

Variety denomination

The inventive variety of Pachyveria hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘TSAECH1702’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘TSAECH1702’ is an intergeneric hybrid seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Pachyphytum glutinacaule plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Echeveria hookeri plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in the autumn of 2013 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the summer of 2015, one seedling was observed which exhibited unique growth and foliage characteristics. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘TSAECH1702’ was selected for commercialization in the autumn of 2015.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1702’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2016 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through four subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TSAECH1702’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘TSAECH1702’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘TSAECH1702’ as a new and distinct Pachyveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘TSAECH1702’ exhibits long and narrow succulent foliage with         an upright attitude, arranged in basal rosette; and     -   2. ‘TSAECH1702’ exhibits thick, spatulate to obovate foliage         with an upwardly curved aspect; and     -   3. ‘TSAECH1702’ exhibits very light greyed-green juvenile         foliage with a white to light blue hue at and near the center of         the rosette; and     -   4. ‘TSAECH1702’ exhibits foliage which becomes progressively         suffused with yellow-green, with age, towards the outer whorls         of the rosette; and     -   5. ‘TSAECH1702’ exhibits mature foliage at the outermost whorls         of the rosette which is generally colored yellow-green with a         blue hue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘TSAECH1702’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 6 months old, shown planted in a 10 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘TSAECH1702.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the foliage color from the center of the rosette (juvenile foliage) to the outer most whorl of the rosette (mature foliage) of ‘TSAECH1702’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘TSAECH1702’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2018 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 6 months old ‘TSAECH1702’ plants grown in 10 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria and Pachyphytum plants which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug and Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘TSAECH1702’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘TSAECH1702’ and comparisons with the parent plants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—8.4 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 12.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —             Approximately 26 weeks to produce a marketable plant in an             11 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria and             Pachyphytum pests and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;             no main branches or lateral branches present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 32 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are spatulate to             obovate.         -   Dimensions.—6.2 cm long, 2.3 cm wide, and 1.0 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Very slightly concave and slightly to moderately             curved upward.         -   Attitude.—Younger foliage near the center of the rosette is             very upright; foliage becoming progressively more relaxed             towards the outer whorl of the rosette; average angle of 45             degrees from horizontal.         -   Apex.—Broad acute to apiculate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated or lobed.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; moderately glaucous.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; moderately glaucous.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 191B, and fading lighter towards the base,             nearest to RHS 193C; the epicuticular glaucous wax covering             the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188B.             Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to             RHS 191B, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to             RHS 193C; the epicuticular glaucous wax covering the leaf             surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188B. Mature             foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             147C, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS             147D; the epicuticular glaucous wax covering the leaf             surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188B. Mature             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             147C, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS             147D; the epicuticular glaucous wax covering the leaf             surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188B.         -   Venation.—No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.

Inflorescence

No flowering has been observed to date.

Comparisons with the Parent Plant and Closest Known Comparator

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1702’ differ from the seed parent, an unnamed Pachyphytum glutinicaule plant (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Pachyphytum Characteristic ‘TSAECH1702’ glutinicaule seed parent. General coloration of the Light greyed-green Light greyed green foliage. with a blue hue with a white to pink hue. Leaf thickness. Thinner. Thicker.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1702’ differ from the pollen parent, an unnamed Echeveria hookeri plant (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Echeveria hookeri Characteristic ‘TSAECH1702’ pollen parent. General coloration of the Light greyed-green with a Light greyed green foliage. blue hue. with a white hue. Leaf thickness. Thinner. Thicker.

Comparisons with the Closest Known Comparator

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1702’ differ from the closest known commercial comparator, Graptoveria ‘Debbie’ (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘TSAECH1702’ Graptoveria 'Debbie' Plant vigor. More vigorous. Less vigorous. General coloration of the Light greyed-green Greyed-green foliage. with a blue hue. with a pink hue. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pachyphytum glutinacaule x Echeveria hookeri hybrid plant named ‘TSAECH1702’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 